Three contenders are assured, with Tony Kushner’s script for Lincoln being the one to beat. Chris Terrio and David O. Russell are assured nominations as well. The remaining two spots look to be populated by would-be Best Picture nominees (and honestly, both The Best Exotic Marigold Hoteland Beasts of the Southern Wild could secure a nomination).

While most would feel that David Magee’s script for Life of Pi will secure the final spot in the category, the fact is that the film has never been about its narrative elements – it’s often been cited as the weakest component to a director-driven picture reliant on visual spectacle.